The elusive street artist has spoken out about the show claiming to be 'the
most expensive collection of Banksy artworks ever'

As press and street art fans were allowed in to take a first look at an exhibition claiming to be "the most expensive collection of Banksy artworks ever assembled", the artist posted a statement on his website condemning it.

A message appeared on Banksy.co.uk saying: "'The Stealing Banksy' exhibition taking place in London this weekend has been organised without the involvement or consent of the artist."

"Banksy would like to make it clear - this show has nothing to do with me and I think it's disgusting people are allowed to go displaying art on walls without getting permission."

No Ball Games, which Sincura Group are claiming to be by Banksy, is expected to reach £500,000 Photo: Sincura Group

The show has been put on by the Sincura Group, who refused to speak to The Telegraph at the opening. However, despite the provocative title of the exhibition, The Banksy Bugle, an accompanying unofficial newspaper, stated: "It should be noted that the Sincura Group do not steal art. We have made no financial gain from the sale of any street art."

The Sincura have previously been criticised for selling Banksy's Slave Labour work for more than £750,000 at a private auction after it was removed from a wall in North London.

Stealing Banksy include his 2009 work No Ball Games, which is being auctioned with an estimated sale price of £500,000, and Oldskool, which disappeared in 2008 from its East London location and is expected to reach £350,000. None of the pieces in the show have been authenticated as being by Banksy.

Banksy's No Ball Games in its original location in Tottenham, North London, in 2009 (Chiara Lore)

No Ball Games disappeared from its site in Tottenham Green, North London in July 2013. The Sincura Group said they had been approached anonymously to manage the sale of No Ball Games, after which it was plastered over.

The Banksy Bugle claims the work was removed to "be sensitively restored to its former glory" and had been given back to a charity, which would receive the auction funds, however the work has been cut into three pieces to be displayed.

The piece is exhibited in three parts in Stealing Banksy.

Banksy's No Ball Games, on show at Stealing Banksy, in three parts (Getty)

Banksy's authentication service, Pest Control, maintains on its website that there are currently no Banksy works on sale, stating: "Pest Control is now the sole point of sale for new work by Banksy, of which there is currently something/nothing available."

Stealing Banksy is open to members of the public, with ticket prices starting at £17.50 each.